Refrigeration equipment



L. F. MOODY REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT Filed July 29, 1930 Aug. 20, 11935.

4 Sheets- Sheet 1 REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT I I ENTORI w Aug. 20, F. MOODY v REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT Filed July 29., 1930 4Sheet s-$heet 5 Aug. 20, 1935. I 1.. F. MOODY 2,011,646

REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT 3 Filed Jill 29, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 circulating rotor shaft and a modified arrange- Patented Aug. 20, 1935 Fi STATES ATENT FFEE 9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to refrigeration equipment and more particularly to an improved arrangement and means for'circulating brine in a commercial ice-making plant wherein ice cans are disposed within a brine tank and the brine is circulated around the cans to effect the necessary freezing of the water therein. An object of my invention is to provide improved means whereby thebrine may be efficiently circulated so 'as to permit the use of smaller and therefore more economical circulating equipment; A further object is to provide improved brine circulating equipment which is relatively simple in construction while another object is to provide circulating equipment which has not only simplicity, economy of construction and operation, but also is relatively compact.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from the following description of the accompanying drawings in which:

' Figs. 1 and .2. are plan views of. difierent forms of brine tanks, theqactuating means and its supporting structure for the agitating mechanism". being omitted for the sake of clearness, I

Fig. 3 is a vertical partial sectional view of the circulating mechanism taken substantially on the line, 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a modification of Fig. 3, showing a different bearing arrangement for supporting the ment of the difiusing passage leading to the brine cooler,

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a brine tank with a modifiedform of circulating mechanism shown therein,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of Fig. 5 with the top removed therefrom to show the vertical bafiles,

Fig. 7 is. a vertical section taken. substantially on the line 1-2! of Figs, 6 and 8, certain parts however being shown in elevation for simplicity,

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 8'-8 of Figs. 5, 6 and 7,

99 .of Figs. 3'and 4; and showing inplan the form of circulator rotor used preferably in all forms of circulator mechanisms shown,

Fig; 10 is a vertical sectional View through the brine circulating rotor showing two blades in ele- Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken on the line.

terline thereof.

Fig. 12 is a similar section taken on the line |z |2 of Fig; 10, Fig. 13 we plan View of a four-bladed circula ing element or rotor the blades of which are formed generally similar to those shown in Figs. 1012.'

While I have shown my improved circulating mechanism in connection with various forms of brine tanks it is of course to be understood that any of various other forms of such tanks may be employed and that various arrangements of the circulating mechanism with respect to the brine tank andbrine cooler may be used. For purposes of illustration it will therefore sufiice to consider only a few of these arrangements of which the form shown in Fig; 1 comprises a brine tank I of sufficient depth to receive a series of ice cans indicated diagrammatically at 2 in Fig. 2 while suitablepartitions 3 and 4 are provided to insure a predetermined path of brine circulation as indicated bythe arrows. These partitions are rela tivelyclose together as at 5 and 6 toihouse the brine coolers 7 while circulating mechanism per se generally indicated at 8 efiects the necessary circulation of brine therethrough. Two such mechanisms are shown in connection with the Fig. 1 system and they are identical.

In the Fig. 2 form a single central partition 9 is provided in a brine tank I while an L shaped portion In of this partition provides a. space for receiving a single brine cooler II and circulating mechanism generally indicated at I2. This circulating mechanism is identical to those shown in Fig. 1.

The various elements of the circulating mechanism are so arranged and constructed that they cooperate in a very efiicient manner to produce brine circulation around the ice cans. Details of the elements of the circulating mechanism comprise as shown in Fig. 3, which is a section on line 33 of Fig. 2, a short beam l3 removably supported upon flanges I4 secured to the sides of the brine tank I and partition I0. Projecting downwardly from this beam is a supporting arm I5 carrying my. improved diffusing passage generally indicated at [6. The arm I5 may be made of any suitable material, preferably plate metal of sufficient thickness to provide the necessary rigidity and this plate is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the beam l3 and the various elements of thepassage IS. The connection to the passage is preferably along the longitudinal cen- The casing or passage 16 includes a bell-shaped inlet ll which gradually tapers inwardly and thence outwardly to provide a throat at E8. This outward tapering'or flaring 'of the passage is continued by the provision of rotor issecured to. a shaft 26fthe lower end of tivelyrapidly enlarging passage;

relatively simple sections l1 made preferably of sheet metal and having substantially straight line elements extending! longitudinallyof the passage. These sections also are circular in cross section with theiredges lying in diverging planes so that an elbow is formed The final section 59 has its outer end projecting-freely so that it may behreadily moved into telescopic connection 1 with acircularinletw of a normallyimmovable 'passagegenerally indicated at 2!. fl'his passage continuesthe gradual enlarging of the elbow passage and has an angle of flare which preferably ofthe diffusing passageZI. 'Alongitudinal plate 22"e'xtending entirely'across the conical 'difiuser 2i subdivides the same, in ordertoguide, the flow and permitefficient deceleration within the rela- -Ai circulating, element or rotor 25 1 cooperates with the casing" It by being disposed preferably 1 slightly-:above the throat of the section IT: ,;The

' which-is guidedinja bearing supported'by radial,

1 stay vanes 21 secured to the walls of passage l6.-

Vanes 2'! may beeither entirely vertical or ;in-. clined in thedirection of; flow to impart-whirl. thereto; Shafti 26, projects upwardly through a pipe :2-8 *welded or otherwisesuitably secured to I the topof sections i1, while the other end-f pipe 28- is similarly secured to a floor ,plate29.

In: the upper end 'of pipe 28 isa suitable bearing, for, the shaft. 26 while supported upon the. plate 29 EJSTbY suitableI-heamstll is-an electric motor. 3i whose shaft, isconnected' to shaftZB as by a- Icoupling 32. From the disclosure so far it ;is

seenthat the motor 3! ,plate 29, I-beam. I3 sup-' ports l5, and passage I 6 constitute a unitarystruc-v ture' or .unit adapted to be bodily removed from "5: the brine tank passage 2!; o 1 1" The circulating element or rotor 25, has; as shown in Fig. 9, six urishrouded blades 33... 1 The a general description of one blade will'sufiic'e'forgall,

; although it'is 'to be understood that any type of j, rotor may be empl'oyedwhichis; adapted for its primary function to effectn eificient circulation.

of-liquid'galthoughj in the "prefer-red "form of my invention therotor is of'the axial. inlet'.:and'discharge type.- Such rotors are adapted for ef-ji 'fici'ent operation when 'used vwith I my improved gradually enlarging passage arrangement. '.The, Y rotorhas a high'specific speed off50fl-and up,

Wardswhen'computed on'the:basis:of-

minute," Qis cubicfeet per second and H is head 1 in feet of'brin'e; The blade surfaoesaremade up of substantiallystraight line elements lying in taken adjacent'the hub such as on line' l2--l2 of Figf E is-inclined sub stantiall'y at 45 or; its front T or drivingfac'e; It is also seen that the driving" face over substan'tially 'the' whole of' the blade-ls relatively flat in the direction of flow thereover While the total actual surface area of the blades is approximately equal to the disc area between the hub 35 and the walls of the casing section l1, measured in a plane normal to the runner axis. Also, as shown in Fig. 9 the'blades when viewed. in plan preferably overlap ;over the major portion of the blade length, but have open ,may if desired extend throughout substantially the whole length of the blades due to the circulatingrotor operating against a relatively small circulating head of possibly only a few inches. Such a'comple'tely open type circulator element is shown in Figll3 wherein only 4 blades 33 are provided. The other characteristics of these blades are the same as those described for the six-bladed runner. The-rotor is adapted'for operation at arelatively high number of revolutions per: minute while ,lcirculating. large quantities of fluid under a small head; andhas high efficiency correspondingly low power consumption;

shaft 26: of ,circulator,. element 425' a hollow supportr'nB-f extends through the wall of easing I6 to support abearing 39;: The structural arrangementifor the"remainder of:the equipment in this form-is'the same as in' the form above described.

The operations of the forms show'nin-Fi'gs. 3

and dare the same in thatupon'rotation of the circulatorazordagitating 1 rotor 25' brine will flow from the brine. tank. upwardly through 'bellmouth' Fly-thence.axiallyto and from the rotor and on through the gradually flaring elbow passage l6 thereby-gradually. decelerating the flow and whichfvalues"represent generally. the preferred; minimum and maximum limitsof flare, although in either case the Tgradual rate" of flow deceleration willlinsur'e an efiicient discharge'oi brine into the brine tank. .Nocen'tral guide plate such asZ'Z'isneededWhen thespace permits the smaller flare of Fig. 4to be used.

In themodificati'on shown in' FigsfB to 8 the brine tank 4 2 has a partition' 63. through which the brine-cooler 44 extends, this coolerbeing of circular cross-section. The" circulating mecha nism is shown generally at 45 "and comprises" a squarecollecting chamber 46 at the entrance end o f-icoolerl lfiorme'd byfatcontinuo'us side and bot- H a a i l. v tom element 41 substantially'tangent to the lower where N5 is specific speed, N isi revolut'ions' per 1 l front wants terminating adj acent the upper edge of the cooler, while a wall lscloses'ithe rear end of theipassage. An iriletopening 5G is provided inthe bottom'of the'memberfl at a point adjacent therear wall 49. A circular inlet guide 5! having somewhat of a'bellmouthentrance and a I.

diverging upper part is secured in alignment with opening 58. Projecting upwardly from the passage "5l isa difiusing cone 52 forniedpreferably by astraight line 'generatrix. This cone merely i to cone 52.

posite relatively narrow vertical baflles 53 welded or otherwise suitably secured at their outerends The inner ends are likewise welded or, otherwise secured to a vertical hollow support in the form of a pipe 5 35 "lf desired bafiles 53 and 55 could merely bear against theiwalls of the cone is securedlto the wallof the =cone"52; "The pipe support 5 3extends upwardlythrough and ssecured to a horizontal baffle 56 and to the vertical baifles 55 as by weldingor otherwiseg -andtermina'tes ina suitable recess formed ma cover 51 removably' secured to a floor plate 58 as by bolts of other desired means:- The pipe 54 is rigidly secured to the cover 51. Ash'aft 59 carries a circulator'rotor 6d and is supported ina lower removable bearing 6! and an upper bearing .52. This shaft may be connected either directly'to a motor as shown in the' Fig. 2 form or provided with a pulley or rope sheave 63. From the construction so far described it is seen that the diffusing cone, circulating element 50, vertical and horizontal baffles 53, 55 and cover 5! constitute a unitary structure or unit adapted to be bodily removed without disturbing the remaining portion of the circulating mechanism. vIt is to be noted that in all forms shown the passages leading to the brine cooler are relatively long in comparison to their minimum diameter; the Fig. 8 form having, for instance a length at least one and one-half times that of the minimum diameter. The angle of flare of the sides of cone 52 with respect to the axis should be preferably between about 6 and 10. Inasmuch as the discharge passages of all modifications are conical it is seen that generically the angle of flare of these or corresponding passages is determined by comparison to an equivalent conical tube of preferably straight form such as shown in Fig. 8 at 52. I 1

In the operation of this form, rotation of the circulator rotor Bil causes fluid to flow upwardly through the inlet 56 from the brine tank 42, thence with a gradually decelerating rate of flow through the diffusing cone 52 from which the fluid is discharged. into the relatively large collecting chamber 45 surrounding the cone.

7 Any whirling of the fluid caused for instance by rotation of the circulator iii] will be substantially removed as the fluid. discharges from the cone past the verticalbaflies 53 and 55.

In order to improve the efficiency of the circulating mechanism the horizontal baffle 56 is spaced relatively close to the upper end of the cone 52thereby leaving an appreciable chamber between the horizontal bafile and the cover 51. As a result of this horizontal baffie, fluid flows uniformly out of the cone and into the chamber 46 without eddy currents or entraining of air, as might occur if the fluid had a free surface, which would be made possible if the horizontal baflle was omitted and the fluid allowed to discharge entirely freely in the space between the horizontal baflle and the cover 5?. This feature is found to be highly effective in increasing the circulation of brine even though-the head, against which 1 the circulator se operates, amounts to only a few inches. As the fluid discharges into the collecting chamber it then flows outwardly through the brine cooler, thence around the ice cans 66 and back to the inlet passage 5!]. The walls of passage A 59 are *preferably smoothly curving as shown and preferably in the form of a surface or revolution. A continuation of the horizontal baffle 'is'had by the provision of asquare plate 58 bolted to the sides of the walls of chamber 46 andhaving aniopening'suitablycut toconforml'to the shape of the horizontal baflie which is preferably circular. 7

From the foregoing description of the several modifications shown it is seen that I have provided a circulating system which is highly 'efiicient, compact and economical in construction and operation, although it will of course be understood that-various changes and mochflcations may be made in these different forms with out departing from the'spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims;

I claim: i i

1-. A refrigeration system having a brine tank and mechanism for circulating brine therein including acirculator element of the axial inlet.

and discharge blade type, a vertically disposed relatively long vertically extending gradually flaring straight discharge passage for conducting the fluid flow directly from said circulator element upwardly through said passage, and means providing a surface disposed transversely of said passage below the normally free surface of the brine in the tank.

2. A refrigeration system having a brine tank and mechanism for circulating brine therein including a circulator element of the blade type, a relatively long vertically extending gradually flaring straight discharge passage for conducting the fluid flow directly from said circulator rotor, and a horizontal baflie having a relatively smooth surface disposed at the end of said passage and transversely thereof whereby the fluid engages said baflle so as to be smoothly turned away from the axis of said passage.

3. A refrigeration system having. a brine tank, a cooler, and mechanism for circulating brine therein including a circulator element of the unshrouded blade type, a relatively long vertically extending gradually flaring straight discharge passage for conducting the fluid flow directly from said circulator element, a horizontal bafile disposed at the end of said passage transversely thereof, and other baflies extending longitudinally of said passage.

4. A refrigeration system having a brine tank, a cooler, and mechanism for circulating brine therein including a circulator element of the unshrouded blade type, a relatively long vertical- 1y extending gradually flaring straight discharge passage for conducting the fluid flow directly from said circulator element, a horizontal bafile disposed at the end of said passage transversely thereof, and other baffles extending longitudinally of said passage near the discharge end thereof.

5. A refrigeration system having a liquid tank, and mechanism for circulating liquid therein including a gradually flaring vertically extending straight discharge passage from which liquid to be circulated overflows the top edge thereof in a horizontal direction, said passage having a sub stantially continuous wall surface whereby the brine flows uninterruptedly through said passage with a gradual rate of deceleration, and a rotatable circulator element of the axial flow unshrouded blade type disposed in the lower portion of said passage to cause upward flow including a gradually flaring vertically extending straightdischarge passage from whichliquid to be circulated. overflows the top edge thereof in a horizontal direction, said edge being disposed below the free level of the discharge fluid, a

horizontal bafile disposed belowsaid free 'level and transversely of the upper end of said pas sage, and a circulator element located in the lower A gerat ystemhavin a iquit a512,. a d mechanism v ior circulating liquid therein V V collector boxwhich is substantially rectangular including a gradually flaring vertically extending straight discharge passage from which liquid to be circulated overflows the top edgethereof in a; horizontal direction, a horizontal baflle spaced from but disposed over the upper endof said discharge passage; a collector box surrounding said passage for receivingdischarged fluid therefrom, said box being; spaced from the bottom of end f said passage to cause'upward flow of the aoincec "said tank and having an inlet opening communicatingwith the lower end of said passage, and. a circulator element disposed adjacent said lower end wherebyfluid is circulated from said tank upwardlyfthrough said inlet and through said 5 gradually flaring passageand against saidhori- Zontal balile into said collector box.

A refrigeration system for a brine tank,

havingjcirculatingmechanism including a collector box, a vertical upwardly discharging diffuser therein having an axial entrance leading fromioutsidewof said-box, a'flow space around said'difiuser and within said box, andv an axial fiowjcirculator rotor at thejentrance to said 9.; AjZliquid circulating system comprising a in horizontal section, a vertical upwardly discharging difiuser thereinnhaving an axialtentrance leading from outside of said box, a closed space around said difiuser and within said box, and an; axial flow circulator rotor at the entrance to said-diffuser; f v a a xLEWIS FERR-Y MOODY. 

